Hatred, bigotry, and prejudice is taught. But we are born to love. Or are we...?
I am autism. I am visible to your children, but if I can help it, I am invisible to you until it's too late. I know where you live, and guess what? I live there too. I hover around all of you. I know no color barrier, no religion, no morality, no currency. I speak your language fluently, and with every voice I take away, I acquire yet another language. I work very quickly. I work faster than pediatric AIDS, cancer, and diabetes combined. And if you're happily married, I will make sure that your marriage fails. Your money will fall into my hands, and I will bankrupt you for my own self-gain. I don't sleep, so I make sure you don't either. I will make it virtually impossible for your family to easily attend a temple, a birthday party, a public park, without embarrassment, without pain. You have no cure for me. Your scientists don't have the resources, and I relish their desperation. Your neighbors are happier to pretend that I don't exist, of course, until it's their child. I am autism. I have no interest in right or wrong. I derive great pleasure out of your loneliness. I will fight to take away your hope. I will plot to rob you of your children and your dreams. I will make sure that every day you wake up, you will cry, wondering 'Who will take care of my child after I die?' And the truth is, I am still winning, and you are scared, and you should be. I am autism. You ignored me. That was a mistake.
There are no words to describe the feeling in the pit of my stomach after both reading and listening to the above message from the latest Autism Speaks
"I Am Autism" video. Even more heartbreaking is that this video was aired at a
United Nations conference. United Nations is concerned with peace and security, human rights, and humanitarian affairs. There is nothing about the above message that speaks to my soul about human equality and human rights.
Autism Speaks' "I Am Autism" video perpetuates a message of fear and intolerance regarding individuals on the autism spectrum. Is it ethical for Autism Speaks to rely upon alarm and pity-mongering to raise funds by utilizing discrimination, fallacy, and ignominy?
AUTISTIC RIGHTS = HUMAN RIGHTS
Autistic people need acceptance, accommodation, appropriate education, dignity, integration, legal protection, opportunity, respect, tolerance, and understanding. Not hatred, misguided awareness, and misconception. Is it commendable and righteous to generate monies by using erroneous fear-based tactics and horrific solicitations that do not ensure quality of life for individuals on the autistic spectrum?
We must renounce injustice through service. Further reading:
Posts
I've just posted a video response here... There's a transcript of the dialogue too... I'm only just getting the hang of the subtitling software...
ReplyDeleteI am keeping a running list of those objecting to the "I Am Autism" fundraising video from Autism Speaks at http://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_of_dreams/2009/09/i-am-autism-awareness-video-by-alfonso-cuar%C3%B3n-ransom-reprise.html
ReplyDeleteThanks socrates and liz ditz
ReplyDelete"Your money will fall into my hands, and I will bankrupt you for my own self-gain."....I think Autism Speaks is projecting their own agenda with those words .
ReplyDeleteOn related topic...I just recieved a educational flyer from my insurance company and was pleased to see that they had something about the autism spectrum on it . The said that autism is not increasing, just being better diagnosed (ggod info) and that vaccines do not cause autism (more accurate info)...and then stupidly listed Autism Speaks as a resource for people to go to for information !!! Do they have any clue what AS says ? (Fricken morons run the world .)
Glad to see you on here krex!
ReplyDeleteElesia, I just found your blog by googling Aspergers and deafness. My 7 yr old was just diagnosed with Aspergers and is profoundly deaf with cochlear implants. Just excited to find someone similar to her. I may have some questions for you, if you don't mind.
ReplyDeleteDear Sara,
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Aspitude! I would love to be a reference point for you and your daughter. It's not too often I run into another person who also has a cochlear implant/s and who is also on the spectrum. I look forward to your correspondence. Please send me a private email so that we can establish further contact.
To encourage is to give active help or to raise confidence to the point where one dares to do what is difficult... your path... your blog!
ReplyDeleteYour blog sounds good and best.. Thanks for sharing..
ReplyDeletehttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Viva-Magazine-Your-Premium-Womens-Natural-Health-Magazine/262734921452?ref=ts
Thanks for sharing... Well done...
ReplyDeleteThank you to all who have supported this post! :)
ReplyDeleteI am disappointed to note that "MABEL'S LABELS" a company with a wonderful product, is donating a portion of funds spent on safety labels to "autism speaks". I have contacted them letting them know that I would love to have these products for my son with Asperger's but would not be willing to support that organization. No response.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Daniel Stratton Sr. I hate that so much money is wasted on so many things for autism awareness but not for the kids. I have started a nonprofit called Vision Of Autism here in Katy Texas. You can check us out at www.visionsofautism.com please. We recycle things people throw away to help kids with autism. I would welcome anyone and any ideas to help these kids. My grandson is 6 non-verbal with autism and I would do anything to help him and others like him. I personally do not like these large autism groups that make millions and spend pennies on the kids. Directors being paid hundreds of thousands dollars for what? I think we need to concentrate on helping the kids in our own neighborhoods. Every community has many kids that need our help. Support local organizations that really help people with autism! Start one yourself I did you can do it! If we all took action like this we can and will make life better for all the people in our neighborhoods. Get up get going you can make things better!
ReplyDeleteTalk to Dr. Stephen McCullough at Salk Institute in San Diego. He has Aspergers. He is a deaf researcher. It will be good to see how he copes.
ReplyDelete